Method for acquiring data describing audio-visual contents, system, broadcast server, description server, and reception terminal therefor

Abstract

The invention relates in particular to a method of acquiring description data for broadcast audiovisual content, the method comprising: a step ( 28 ) in which a receiver terminal ( 12 ) transmits at least one information request to at least one server ( 16 ) of audiovisual content descriptions; and a step ( 30 ) of the receiver terminal ( 12 ) receiving description data supplied as a function of elements of the request. It further comprises a prior step ( 20, 22, 24 ) of acquiring and storing in the receiver terminal ( 12 ) at least one initial information request comprising the address of at least one audiovisual content description server ( 16 ) and a step ( 26 ) of generating the request on the basis of the previously-acquired initial request. The invention also provides a system, a broadcast server, a receiver terminal, and a description server for implementing the method.

1 . A method of acquiring description data for broadcast audiovisual content, the method comprising: 
 a step ( 20 ,  22 ,  24 ) of acquiring and storing in a receiver terminal ( 12 ) at least one initial information request comprising an address of at least one audiovisual content description server ( 16 );    a step ( 26 ) of generating at least one information request on the basis of the initial information request;    a step ( 28 ) in which the receiver terminal ( 12 ) transmits the information request to the server ( 16 ) of audiovisual content descriptions; and    a step ( 30 ) of the receiver terminal ( 12 ) receiving description data supplied as a function of elements of the request.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein during the reception step ( 30 ), audiovisual content description data is supplied as a function of a relationship between at least one date and time associated with the request and the broadcast date and time of the audiovisual content.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the date and time associated with the request corresponds to the date and time at which the request is transmitted.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request as transmitted is identical to the initial request.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein during the request generation step ( 26 ), the initial request is extended by specifying at least one date and time.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein, during the reception step ( 30 ), the data supplied is that corresponding to audiovisual content broadcast at the date and time specified in the request.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein during the request generation step ( 26 ), the initial request is expanded by specifying a number of content items, and in that during the reception step ( 30 ), the data supplied corresponds to the requested number of audiovisual content items broadcast starting from the date and time specified in the request.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein during the request generation step ( 26 ), the initial request is extended by specifying a time interval, and in that during reception step ( 30 ), the data supplied relates to audiovisual content broadcast in the time interval specified in the request.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the time interval is defined by a start date and time and by an end date and time.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the time interval is defined by a start date and time and by a duration.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein during the request generation step ( 26 ), the initial request is extended by specifying keywords corresponding to the names of description elements for broadcast audiovisual content.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein following the step ( 30 ) of receiving description data, the method returns to the request generation step ( 26 ) in order to generate at least one new request associated with a new date and a new time corresponding to the end-of-broadcast date and time for the audiovisual content for which description data has just been received.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step ( 20 ,  22 ,  24 ) of acquiring and storing an initial request comprises downloading ( 20 ) said request from a description server ( 16 ).  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step ( 20 ,  22 ,  24 ) of acquiring and storing an initial step comprises the receiver terminal ( 12 ) receiving ( 22 ) said initial request via a signaling channel associated with an audiovisual content broadcast channel.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step ( 20 ,  22 ,  24 ) of acquiring and storing an initial request comprises a broadcast server ( 10 ) supplying ( 24 ) an SDP type file corresponding to an address field of a description server ( 16 ).  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the description data is supplied in the form of an XML file.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request is associated with a single audiovisual content broadcast channel.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein while generating ( 26 ) the request for transmission, a set of broadcast channels is defined, and in that during transmission step ( 28 ), as many requests are transmitted as there are broadcast channels specified in the request.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request generation step comprises adding at least one selection criterion to the initial request.  
     
     
         20 . A system for acquiring description data for broadcast audiovisual channel, the system comprising at least one receiver terminal ( 12 ) for receiving audiovisual content and at least one audiovisual content description server ( 16 ), the receiver terminal ( 12 ) including means for acquiring and storing at least one initial information request comprising the address of at least one description server ( 16 ), means for generating a request on the basis of the initial request, and means for transmitting said request to the description server, and in that the description server ( 16 ) includes means for transmitting to the receiver terminal ( 12 ) description data supplied as a function of the request.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the description server ( 16 ) includes means for making an initial request available.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the system includes at least one audiovisual content broadcast server ( 10 ), said server including means for transmitting initial requests together with the broadcast content.  
     
     
         23 . An audiovisual content broadcast server ( 10 ) for implementing a description acquisition method comprising: 
 a step ( 20 ,  22 ,  24 ) of acquiring and storing in a receiver terminal ( 12 ) at least one initial information request comprising an address of at least one audiovisual content description server ( 16 );    a step ( 26 ) of generating at least one information request on the basis of the initial information request;    a step ( 28 ) in which the receiver terminal ( 12 ) transmits the information request to the server ( 16 ) of audiovisual content descriptions; and    a step ( 30 ) of the receiver terminal ( 12 ) receiving description data supplied as a function of elements of the request;    the server including transmission means for transmitting initial requests together with the broadcast content.    
     
     
         24 . The server of  claim 23 , wherein the transmission means are regular transmission means.  
     
     
         25 . A receiver terminal ( 12 ) for receiving audiovisual content to implement a description data acquisition method comprising: 
 a step ( 20 ,  22 ,  24 ) of acquiring and storing in a receiver terminal ( 12 ) at least one initial information request comprising an address of at least one audiovisual content description server ( 16 );    a step ( 26 ) of generating at least one information request on the basis of the initial information request;    a step ( 28 ) in which the receiver terminal ( 12 ) transmits the information request to the server ( 16 ) of audiovisual content descriptions; and    a step ( 30 ) of the receiver terminal ( 12 ) receiving description data supplied as a function of elements of the request;    the receiver comprising means for storing an initial request and means for generating a request to be transmitted on the basis of the initial request.    
     
     
         26 . An audiovisual content description server ( 16 ) for implementing a description data acquisition method comprising: 
 a step ( 20 ,  22 ,  24 ) of acquiring and storing in a receiver terminal ( 12 ) at least one initial information request comprising an address of at least one audiovisual content description server ( 16 );    a step ( 26 ) of generating at least one information request on the basis of the initial information request;    a step ( 28 ) in which a the receiver terminal ( 12 ) transmits the information request to the server ( 16 ) of audiovisual content descriptions; and    a step ( 30 ) of the receiver terminal ( 12 ) receiving description data supplied as a function of elements of the request;    the server comprising means for making an initial request available.